Wildlife Management Specialist Position, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever

Chelsea and Pleasantville, IA

Job Title: Wildlife Management Specialist Position

Organization: Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever

Location: Chelsea and Pleasantville, IA

Position Overview: These positions are part of a partnership between Pheasants Forever and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Under the daily direction of Iowa DNR staff, the incumbents will conduct habitat management work on public wildlife areas.Each PF Wildlife Management Specialist is expected to perform a variety of semi-skilled maintenance and technical tasks at a wildlife management unit. The employee is expected to display a high level of initiative and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. Employees in this position will work with other wildlife unit personnel and be under the general direction of the Wildlife Biologist.  The job duties of this position include general wildlife management activities on State owned wildlife areas within the assigned unit counties.  Overnight travel will occasionally be required on special projects outside of the assigned unit counties, especially during the fall months. 

Duties: 

  • Perform general wildlife management activities including:  Wetland management, prairie management, native prairie seeding, food plot development, tree/brush removal, spraying, disking, mowing, etc. using large farm machinery, chainsaws, and other hand tools. 
  • Prescribed fire implementation for ecological purposes.  This duty will require fire-line construction, fire-line holding, and mop-up activities.  Performance of these tasks will require the employee to periodically work under physically stressful and adverse conditions.  Proficiency in the use of basic wildland firefighting equipment will be needed.    
  • Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring including:  Waterfowl banding, deer spotlight routes, august roadside surveys, spring bird point counts, fall quail covey counts, chronic wasting disease sampling, etc.  Collecting of biological data occasionally will require early or late in the day work scheduling
  • General area maintenance involving mowing, sign posting, fence building, fence removal, tree/brush control, noxious weed control etc.  These activities require the ability to use simple power equipment; drills, saws, hand tools, chain saws, trimmers, small mowers etc.    
  • Special assignments may require some overnight travel as part of a crew, to accomplish large scale fence removal, fence building or tree removal projects outside of the assigned unit counties.  These assignments will require the ability to work well with others, work out of doors under all types of weather conditions, and to withstand physically demanding work, i.e., lifting, bending and hauling.   

Minimum Qualifications:

  • College graduate with a degree in wildlife biology, animal ecology, or another closely related natural resource field.  
  • Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
  • Able to travel on overnight duties.
  • Work with minimal supervision; demonstrate responsible behavior and attention to detail.
  • Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
  • Able to work alone or as part of a team, with the public, in all conditions, on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.
  • Follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers.
  • Exhibits honesty and integrity.
  • Displays a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently.  

Desired Qualifications: 

  • Master’s level degree.
  • Two years’ experience as a Graduate Assistant in a collegiate outdoor recreation program.
  • Full-time experience working in a collegiate outdoor recreation program. 
  • Experience supervising, training and evaluating student staff.
  • Professional certifications in one or more of the following areas: climbing, mountain biking, paddling, avalanche awareness, and bike mechanic/technician.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and technical skills associated with managing an indoor climbing wall facility including current industry and risk management standards. 
  • Demonstrated knowledge and technical skills associated with cold weather activities such as Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, and Snowshoeing.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and technical skills associated with warm weather activities such as backpacking/hiking, rock climbing, fishing, biking/bike maintenance, mountaineering, camping, and water sports/canoeing. 
  • Documented experience in outdoor leadership.
  • Experience researching and purchasing quality outdoor related equipment.
  • Experience with retail/rental area operations.
  • Knowledge and experience in repair and maintenance of outdoor equipment.
  • Experience teaching and implementing Leave-No-Trace ethics.
  • Knowledge and experience with current industry standards and risk management standards for indoor climbing facilities.
  • Wilderness Medicine Instructor Certification.

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – 40 hours per week

Start/End Dates: June 3, 2022 – June 1, 2023

Salary/Pay: $14.25 per hour

Application Deadline: May 10

How to Apply:  Please click here to view the full job description as well as how to apply.

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